Abdominal muscle exercise device

ABSTRACT

An abdominal muscle exercise device comprising a cylinder on a shaft adapted to be held by the hands. The surface of the cylinder is covered with protrusions which exercise the abdominal muscles when the device is rolled over the abdomen.

nited States Patent Possick [4 1 June 27, 1972 [54] ABDOMINAL MUSCLE EXERCISE 2,273,710 2/1942 Klaes ..l28/57 DEVICE 3,580,246 5/1971 Foreman.. .128/57 X 1,917,566 7/1933 Wood ..272/84 [72] Inventor: Saul Posslck, l4 Boylston Street, Randolph Mass 02368 Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp [22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1970 Attorney-Joseph Zallen [21] App]. No.: 96,834 ABSTRACT An abdominal muscle exercise device com risin a c linder 7 P g y HA6: on a shaft adapted to be held by the hands. The surface of the 58 Field of Search ..12s/24.3, 57; 272/84 cylinder is covered with protrusions which exercise the dominal muscles when the device is rolled over the abdomen. [56] References Cited 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,209,465 7/1940 Matysek ..l28/57 I I I A I .i. s M :I I .1\' It'l Mg! ..\I- d I li d IIQ PATENTEDJUMN I972 SHEET 1 B 2 Ew w h 4 Wu ABDOMINAL MUSCLE EXERCISE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to an exercise device ln particular it relates to a device for exercising abdominal muscles.

As a consequence of age, lack of exercise, improper diet, surgery or illness, the abdominal tissue becomes soft and flabby so as not only to be distended but cause great discomfort. Althoughit is known that muscle exercise generally helps strengthen tissue in other parts of the body, it has heretofore been difficult or impractical to exercise the abdominal muscles.

One object of this present invention-is to provide an exercise device which can be used for exercising the abdominal muscles.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a device which can be hand held.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be ap-- SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention comprises an exercise device adapted to be held by the hands. The deviceis a combination of an elongated shaft and a cylindrical surface shorter than the shaft and mounted rotatably and coaxially on the shaft so that the shaft can be gripped by the hands on both sides of the cylindrical surface. The cylindrical surface is provided with a plurality of spaced, rounded protrusions. The user holds the device by both hands and while in a prone or semi-reclining position rolls the surface with the protrusions up and down over the abdomen. In doing so, the protrusions push the various portions of the abdomen in and out. It is recommended that this rolling be carried out on a regular basis, for example, in the morning and at night. The number of rolls for each exercise period could be varied but could, for example, be 500 per period.

The device is of such a size that the cylindrical surface is almost as long as the width of a normal abdomen. The device can be made out of plastic or light metal such as aluminum and its weight can be adjusted as indicated below. A weight in the order of magnitude of 12 to pounds appears to be most suitable as being of sufficient weight but nonetheless not to tiring for the user.

l have found that after use of the device of this invention, the abdominal muscles and external tissue appear to become stronger. l have further noticed that after prolonged use of the device on a regular basis the abdominal girth is decreased. l have also found that this device can be used equally well on healthy persons as'well as persons who have undergone abdominal surgery.

In its preferred form the cylindrical surface is the outer surface of a hollow cylindrical shell rotatably mounted on the shaft. The shell may be supported on the shaft by removable end plates and held in position by removable collars. The spaced rounded protrusions can either be formed as part of the shell or can be separately attached. The protrusions are preferably arranged in alternately spaced alternate rows so that as the shell is rotated on the abdomen, there is pressure and hence movement on every portion of the abdomen.

In oneparticular form of this invention, weights can be added, removed or substituted within the hollow cylindrical shell so as to accommodate the particular needs of the individual. The protrusions are preferably solid, and wider at their base than at their end, for example, inch in bottom diameter and 1% inch in top diameter, with a height of about inch. The cylindrical shell can, for example, be about l0 inches long, 3 inches wide (exclusive of the protrusions), with a wall thickness of about 3/16 inch. The exposed portions of the shaft on either side of the cylindrical shell would be about 5 inches in length for hand gripping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation with partial central breakaway of FIG. 3 is a transverse section along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF INVENTION The exercise device of this invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a shaft 1 1 on which is rotatably mounted a cylindrical shell 12. The shell is mounted on the shaft by means of a right end plate 13 detachably connected to the shell by a set screw 13a and by left end plate 14 attached by set screw 14a. Both end plates are seated on bushings, the left end plate 14 being seated on a press-fit bushing 18. The rotatable shell is kept in position on the shaft by means of a right collar 15 having a set screw 15a and a left collar 16 having a set screw 16a.

Mounted on that portion of the shaft 11 which is inside the cylindrical shell are cylindrical weights 19 and 20 which are attached to the shaft by set screws 19a and 20a. A third weight is present but not visible in the drawing.

The outer surface of the cylindrical shell 12 is provided with alternately spaced alternate rows of protrusions with a row of eight protrusions alternating with a row of seven protrusions in a uniform arrangement with a total of eight such rows. The rows of protrusions visible in the drawings are identified by numerals 111-118, 211-217, 311-318, 411-417, 511-518, and 611-617. Of the two rows which are not completely visible, protrusion 715 is shown of one row and protrusion 815 of the other row. It should be noted that the protrusions in this example are solid and are integral with the cylindrical shell. The weights may be removed or substituted by loosening the end set screws of the collars and end plates so that the device can be dissembled.

lclaim:

1. An exercise device comprising in combination an elongated shaft and a hollow cylindrical shell which is shorter than the shaft and is mounted rotatively and coaxially on the shaft so that the shaft can be gripped by the hands on both sides of the cylindrical surface; said shell being provided with a plurality of spaced, rounded protrusions; weights being mounted on the portion of the shaft which is within the shell.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the shall is mounted by means of removable end plates and held in position on the shaft by means of removable collars.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the weights are detachable. 

1. An exercise device comprising in combination an elongated shaft and a hollow cylindrical shell which is shorter than the shaft and is mounted rotatively and coaxially on the shaft so that the shaft can be gripped by the hands on both sides of the cylindrical surface; said shell being provided with a plurality of spaced, rounded protrusions; weights being mounted on the portion of the shaft which is within the shell.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the shall is mounted by means of removable end plates and held in position on the shaft by means of removable collars.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the weights are detachable. 